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One leg is ripped, the other is not...

blazindave's picture
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started by blazindave on September 6, 2006

Hey everyone, was just wondering something that has been bothering me for a long time.
First of all, i must explain something...i am a symetrical freak. When i do exercise, or when i stand or do anything, i make sure that either both my hands or arms or legs or whatever do the same amount.
On my left leg, on the side, i have muscle that shows, i have several lines and etc...
On my right leg, i have the same thing but to a lesser extent.
Whats going on here? Does this mean my right leg is weaker? When i wall sit or jog or bike or walk, i make sure to maintain proper posture and have both legs exercise the right amount.
Can someone explain this?

Also, is there a website which will tell me where i can get a tri coach in a given city(montreal, Canada)?
Thanks

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

toni's picture
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toni posted 1 year ago.

Are you left handed? You may try to use both sides, but it seems one is getting a better workout. Maybe see a sports doc about it so you can get some physical therapy and let the PT sort out the problem. Or you could try the cheaper and probably faster route in Canada, which is to work the Right side double for a couple of days until it's workload is equal to the left side and see if that helps.

Any PT's or physiologists out there that can help? I don't know what else to recommend...

Toni, RN

-Toni
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. - FDR

beads1985's picture
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.

Just a couple of things to consider;

Did you ever have an injury?

People are not built symetrically, even though it appears we are.
One leg could be slightly longer than the other and compensting for the difference.

To appear 'ripped' is also a matter of body fat, as you lose body fat your muscles appear defined. How your body loses fat is individually unique so your body may have decided to take more fat from one leg than the other.

just my $.02:D

''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/

bouli's picture
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bouli posted 1 year ago.

Hey man, i broke my left arm a good few times when i was younger. It is DEFINITELY weaker than my right arm, and definitely smaller. i just live with it. sometimes in work though, i try to spend an hour or two just using my left arm, but it's quite annoying. Also, i broke my left ankle once, and my left leg is also slightly smaller, but definitely weaker than my right. Again, if i'm playing football or something, i try to use my left leg more for a while, but i just look stupid. I've just learned to live with it.

As toni said, try working that leg out harder than the other for a while. I used to do that, but gave up since it wasn't hugely important for me to have my left side bang on symmetrical with my right side.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."

-- T.S. Eliot

blazindave's picture
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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

I think you guys know what i meant by ripped. The muscle sticks out on the left..but not so much on the right. Im Actually right handed. The only time i have EVER injured myself was about 3 years ago when i was playing with some friends. Twisted my right ankle. Needless to say though, i was dumb enough after a day or two of sitting on the couch to start walking and running again, but my right ankle has been in "perfect" condition (READ: normal) condition for a while now.

Thanks to everyone for their replies

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

BluStang6's picture
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BluStang6 posted 1 year ago.

Does your car have a manual tranny? Ever since I got my manual car ive noticed my clutch leg is a tad bigger.....just a thought

I du tri's picture
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I du tri posted 1 year ago.

The most important thing is that your legs are equal, or very close to equal, in strength. If their is a musclular strength imbalance, try pushing out a few more reps when weightraining on the weaker limb. try one legged exercises-perhaps one legged wall squats, lunges, step-ups, one legged pedalling drills, etc. to determine if your one leg is significantly weaker and then strengthen it....It is common to overcompensate one leg to the other without realizing it.

Also, beads1985 is right. People are not built symetrically. Many people have arms, pecs, calves, etc. that are smaller than the other or not shaped specifically the same muscularly (abs not lined up evenly, for example). I know myself, that one pec is shaped slightly differently than the other.

It their is no strength imbalance, I wouldn't sweat it.

"Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again."

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Beldrueger posted 1 year ago.

Have you measured your legs? As was mentioned before, we aren't really perfectly symetrical. The more ripped you get the more little differences you'll notice. My abs aren't symetrical. My cheeks aren't symetrical. My shoulders aren't perfectly symetrical. None of my asymetries are notiecable without really looking, but we've all got a few. Who cares? Plus it looks like your just getting started. Things should even out functionaly as you train more.

blazindave's picture
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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

Beldrueger;51770 wrote:
Have you measured your legs? As was mentioned before, we aren't really perfectly symetrical. The more ripped you get the more little differences you'll notice. My abs aren't symetrical. My cheeks aren't symetrical. My shoulders aren't perfectly symetrical. None of my asymetries are notiecable without really looking, but we've all got a few. Who cares? Plus it looks like your just getting started. Things should even out functionaly as you train more.

I guess. I dont drive by the way, so it wouldnt be a clutch thing.
My legs are..as far as i can tell "perfectly" equal in length. Its not the fact that one muscle is bigger than the other by a little, its that the difference is noticeable by alot. And its not in terms of size but cut.
Anyway i believe they are more or less equal in strength, so its ok.

By the way, "I can go the distance" by Michael Bolton is the best song to listen to while training. lol, listen to it. Its so inspirational.:p

[url=]http://youtube.com/watch?v=mcnjmt9ZN_Q[/url]
Thats the song, it says "Allen Iverson-I Can go the Distance" but its Michael Bolton. Allen Iverson is the basketball player ;)

i mean wow..check out the lyrics:

I have often dreamed, of a far off place
Where a hero’s welcome, would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer, when they see my face
And a voice keeps saying, this is where I’m meant to be
I’ll be there someday, I can go the distance
I will find my way, if I can be strong
I know ev’ry mile, will be worth my while
When I go the distance, I’ll be right where I belong
Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate
Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you
And a thousand years, would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime, but somehow I’ll see it through
And I won’t look back, I can go the distance
And I’ll stay on track, no, I won’t accept defeat
It’s an uphill slope, but I won’t lose hope
Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete
But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero’s strength is measured by his heart
Like a shooting star, I will go the distance
I will search the world, I will face its’ harms
I don’t care how far, I can go the distance
Till I find my hero’s welcome, waiting in your arms
I will search the world, I will face it’s harms
Till I find my hero’s welcome, waiting in your arms

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

christri25's picture
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christri25 posted 1 year ago.

Michael Bolton ? oh man, you may be on trifuel timeout restriction :)

Chris

``It's not as if I'm going to sit around and be a fat slob,''
Lance Armstrong 2005

triBandit's picture
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triBandit posted 1 year ago.

Right handed basketball players jump off their left legs when they do layups. If not basketball, do you do any other sports?

Michael Bolton? Wasn't he the guy in Office Space that "killed" the fax machine?

tri-ac's picture
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tri-ac posted 1 year ago.

triBandit;51823 wrote:
Right handed basketball players jump off their left legs when they do layups. If not basketball, do you do any other sports?

we're all one side dominant for both legs and arms. like mentioned above (although irrespective of a particular sport), you probably jump/lead with that leg and it's a subtle but distinguishable factor in your body makeup...

but really...post a photo

blazindave's picture
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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

triBandit;51823 wrote:
Right handed basketball players jump off their left legs when they do layups. If not basketball, do you do any other sports?

Michael Bolton? Wasn't he the guy in Office Space that "killed" the fax machine?

LOL. No i was just showing you the song in the clip of youtube,
I NEVER play basketball. EVER.
Ill post pics as soon as i find my damn camera.

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

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dr_rios_ec posted 1 year ago.

Interesting stuff about human body symetri...
Now from an anatomical point of view, while I was in med school I remember my Radiology Profesor told us this "Part of the beauty of the human body is how asymetrical we are...that is part of how perfectly designed was during creation...that is is why people study the human body"
What he meant is that naturally we are no symetrical at all...even our brains are asymetrical...our arterial/venous systemn is asymetrical...our vision is asymetrical...
So there is nothing to be afraid of, as far is a subtle asymetry between your legs...we always have a dominant side in our body...our brain..arms..legs..hands...everything....
Now...injuries can make musculature asymetry more noticeable..but with proper therapy and trainning..it all comes back to normal...
Now, if there is an important difference between to sides..musculature speaking..then might be something...like an injury...or something else...
In your case my good friend..I would say there is nothing to be afraid

-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa

Anton's picture
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Anton posted 1 year ago.

Saw the title to this thread and the first thing that popped into my head was:
"Weasels ripped my flesh"

I'm not going to explain. There are those who will know and those that wish they did.

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net

beads1985's picture
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.

Anton;51833 wrote:
Saw the title to this thread and the first thing that popped into my head was:
"Weasels ripped my flesh"

I'm not going to explain. There are those who will know and those that wish they did.

Frank and the Mothers would be proud of the reference.:D

''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/

blazindave's picture
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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

Hey, here you go.
lol it looks kinda dumb but ok. I think i might be the only triathlete who doesnt shave his legs. Im half italian so CAREFUL! its a jungle.

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

Anton's picture
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Anton posted 1 year ago.

hummmm. I suggest a rotory mower set at two inches...then a razor...:)

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net

Montreal.Doug's picture
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Montreal.Doug posted 1 year ago.

Hehe

Hey you were asking for a good coach in Montreal...
Well there is St-Lambert Tri club that is a good club, winning state races... There is also "Cadence" tri club.

Btw, I kinda started a weekly training ride/brick with friends here in Montreal, at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Every Saturday morning, we regroup, then we swim/bike/run. Some simply ride, other ride then run. From 8am, as long as you can ;)
Up to date, we are about 9 regular guys.

Don't be shy to join us!
We have white and blue jerseys, sponsored by my actual employer (not related to sports).

Doug

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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

Montreal.Doug;51869 wrote:
Hehe

Hey you were asking for a good coach in Montreal...
Well there is St-Lambert Tri club that is a good club, winning state races... There is also "Cadence" tri club.

Btw, I kinda started a weekly training ride/brick with friends here in Montreal, at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Every Saturday morning, we regroup, then we swim/bike/run. Some simply ride, other ride then run. From 8am, as long as you can ;)
Up to date, we are about 9 regular guys.

Don't be shy to join us!
We have white and blue jerseys, sponsored by my actual employer (not related to sports).

Doug

Wow. Awesome. I'm in.
Its insane. At uni i met a guy who's friend is doing the ironman distance in montreal in a few days/ a week. Then i saw a kid wearing a volunteer ironman shirt. And now you. I think its a sign from good. He WANTS me to do triathlons.
awesome. And yea i know about the hair :P Its my italian side.

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

toni's picture
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toni posted 1 year ago.

Yeah, shave, take another pic and then I can evaluate more accurately... :D

-Toni
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. - FDR

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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

toni;51877 wrote:
Yeah, shave, take another pic and then I can evaluate more accurately... :D

No can do :p Winter is approaching and i need all the hair i can get. Anyway its just the bump thing seen in the pics lol.

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

blazindave's picture
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blazindave posted 1 year ago.

Back by popular demand...


Here's another shot. You can see on the left leg that there are two bumps, were on the right leg there is only one.

I have a question actually..is running barefoot bad for you? I did it yesterday in the rain and it was lots of fun.

"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"

oztrigal's picture
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oztrigal posted 1 year ago.

Can't really see in the pic on the right, it's a bit dark...

Running barefoot is supposed to be really good for you, but you should only start with smallish amounts of time to build up the strength in your feet/legs as they wouldn't be used to it..